Standing out in a crowd of new releases

Congratulations to giveaway winners, Vera Carter, Nancy Little, and Nichole Nace

Ahem. Standing on my soapbox, pulling out my bullhorn.

“Welcome ladies and gentlemen! I’m very excited to announce the release of my latest book, RISING MIST. This third in the “Mist” series (which each stand independently) follows social worker Max Maitland, who is trained to help people, not leave them vulnerable to evil. His unexpected and unwanted legacy bestows upon him a spirit beast—a cougar—to help protect him and his sister. Bound to his sister by their legacy, Max is frustrated at the prospect of sacrificing his own goals and dreams like his bachelor uncle before him.

Robin Chandler’s reputation as a mural artist allows her temporary escape from her native Sedona, Arizona, away from the ex-fiancé who cheated on her and where she suffered the horror of a cougar attack. After four months on the road, she’s ready to return to the desert landscape close to her heart, but meeting Max Maitland is a potent diversion.  When Max tells her his sister is fighting evil spirits, Robin questions her choices. This otherwise irresistible guy can’t really believe in the “woo-woo” can he?”

The paperback is available for sale NOW, but you can still pre-order the e-book (due out a week from Friday) for just $0.99! Hurry, before the price goes up!

Stepping down off my soapbox, putting aside my bullhorn.

Authors are finding it increasingly difficult to be heard in the commotion that has become the publishing industry. Why? Borrowing from a blog I read recently:

“The competition. As of this writing, 11,667 new romance Kindle books released in the last 30 days, or around 400 per day. There are 326,894 romance e-books to choose from. What's a newer author to do to compete in fields with so many flowers?”

 – RuthKaufman, Gainfully Unemployed

I no longer qualify as a “new author,” My first book was published in 2002, and my new release is number 8 (there was a break in time while I had to reorganize my life somewhere between books 2 and 3). I have been releasing two books a year for the last couple, while balancing a day job, but that isn’t always enough for voracious readers. Some of MY favorite authors are putting out three and four and SIX novels per year (without the interference of a “second” job). It’s hard to keep pace with the heavy hitters, and yet I’m seeing THEM struggling to hold onto their readers, even on the best-seller's list.

The industry has undergone numerous changes in the past years, with the advent of e-books and more authors choosing the independent route. As a reader, I’m finding it more difficult to select new books to read. My mailbox is inundated with newsletters hawking discounted and free e-books, and even many of those don’t appeal to me. Knowing that, how can I, as the author, lure a new reader to pick up one of my books when even discounting isn’t enough reason to pick up a book?

There are times when my fellow authors and I threaten to throw in the towel. It’s a challenge to write for an increasingly selective audience and to tap new readers who we hope will find we are their “new favorite author.” We all strive to write a quality product. We hire out professionals to improve our presentation and to check over our final products for errors. At the end of the day, we don’t do this for the money, we write because it is a part of who we are, so when sales lag or we get discouraged that people aren’t finding us, we continue with the next book. Because this is what we love to do. This is what we are passionate about.

So I hope you’ll consider my newest release, and maybe some of my backlist if you are new to my writing. And recommend me to a friend. If I’m not your “cup of tea,” I hope you’ll recommend the books that you have read and enjoyed to your friends to support my fellow authors who are also struggling in an extremely competitive environment. Make sure you spread the word and leave a review for the books you’ve read.

Normally, I do a Goodreads giveaway when I release a new book to give *new* readers a chance to test run my writing. This time, I'm trying something different. Three of the first fifteen people who Click here to enter have a chance to win a paperback version of RISING MIST at Amazon.com. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules.

Requirements for participation:

·         Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia

·         18+ years of age (or legal age)

Oh, and I hope if you are one of the lucky ones, you'll let me know what you think and leave me a review after you've read it!